We are ready for phase two of DRC operation, says Museveni

President Museveni has assured the people of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) of total peace after the two countries launched joint operations to flush out the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) from Eastern Congo.

The President was addressing a delegation of security chiefs from the DR Congo led by their Minister in charge of National Defence Unit, Dr Gilbert Kabanda Kurhenga, at State Lodge Nakasero on Sunday.

“We should really work together and finish this problem. This was phase one. We are now ready for phase two. It is very easy for us to destroy those groups,” Mr Museveni said.

The Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) and The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), the state organisation responsible for defending the DR Congo, launched joint operations against ADF in Eastern Congo on November 30 with bombardment on four major terrorist camps. 

Since then, the two forces have captured several camps including the famous Kambi Ya Yua and secured major routes in Eastern Congo to enable ground battle teams to pursue ADF rebels, who have fled to the thick forests.

To avoid back and forth attacks between the rebels and the joint forces, President Museveni advised the government of DR Congo to intensify regional and local security mechanisms to avoid further insurgencies especially in areas already secured by the joint forces.

“Our experience here is that, once you attack concentrations of the terrorists and they see that you have the capacity, they can’t challenge you army to army, they now go to pure terrorism. They break into small groups and they go to attack villagers,” Mr Museveni said.

Mr Museveni made mention of five elements needed to strengthen security which include using mobile forces, zonal forces, local defence units per village, strategic forces (air forces, artillery) and to lesser - extent special forces. 

He said these will later prevent pockets of terrorism where rebels return to attack villagers and kill people ending up discrediting government.

“That’s why for us, we add the third force. These are called local defence units per village where there’s a threat. And they don’t have to be many. When the other people come to kill villagers, they will be there to repulse them,” he said.

The Chief of Defence Forces Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi briefed the President about the progress of the on-going Operation Shuja aimed at pacifying Eastern Congo, the on-going road construction projects on the Kasindi - Beni - Butembo and Bunagana - Rutshuru to facilitate easy movement of troops and other strategic decisions made between the forces of the two countries.

The Minister in Charge of National Defence of DR Congo, Dr Gilbert Kabanda Kurhenga, thanked President Museveni for his role in ensuring peace in the region.

At the same meeting Ugandan Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja and his counterpart from DR Congo Dr Kabanda signed the bilateral general agreement on Defence cooperation that will ensure joint operations between the armies of both countries.

Operation Shujaa is being implemented following a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Uganda and their DR Congo counterparts to conduct joint operations for the eradication of ADF and other foreign-armed groups in the eastern part of DR Congo.